Posted online: Feb 21st, 2007

The government is being urged to probe a scam in which cash-strapped asylum seekers in Donegal are being exploited by rogue employers.

Evidence is mounting that immigrants, banned by law from working for wages while their asylum applications are processed, are being conned into labouring for nothing.

They are approached on the street and offered casual work on the employment black market. When the job is done the ‘boss’ then disappears without paying any wages.

Because the immigrants shouldn’t be working they are afraid to report the con to gardai in case it affects their prospects of being granted asylum.

Now Donegal south-west Fine Gael TD Dinny McGinley is to ask Justice Minister Michael McDowell and Employment Minister Micheál Martin if they are aware of the scam.

He said: “I want to know how widespread this kind of exploitation is, and what the two departments responsible for immigrant affairs and employment are going to do about it.”

A special Donegal Post investigation discovered that over two days last month eight immigrants based in Donegal town were conned into labouring for nothing for a tarmacadam-layer based across the border.